BRIDGETON — Disgruntled Cumberland County employees and residents assailed the new Democrat-majority freeholder board this week for removing several department heads and eliminating two departments.

One county employee broke down in tears and pleaded with the board to save her boss’ job during Tuesday night’s freeholder meeting. Some residents questioned the board’s judgment while others yelled their disagreement and walked out of the meeting in disgust.

The board members sat in silence and listened as about 10 residents and county employees stood up, one by one, to voice their feelings.

The board voted to remove 9-1-1 Emergency Management Coordinator William Gonzalez and the head of the Juvenile Detention Center Michael Barruzza — effective at midnight on Tuesday. The board then appointed James Matlock, county public safety director, as 9-1-1 coordinator with Barruzza’s responsibilities transferred to Bob Balicki, warden at the Cumberland County Jail and Democratic chairman. Freeholder Joe Derella noted that removing Barruzza and eliminating his position will save about $70,000.

“It is these decisions that make our working conditions intolerable, uncomfortable, and our morale low,” Willitts said. “And the positions you just got rid of are those the Republicans just put in. What’s going to happen next year if Republicans get put back in? Are they going to just get rid of the people you put in? I’m disgusted by this.”

Democrats now hold a 5 to 2 majority on the freeholder board.

Deputy Freeholder Director Doug Long responded by citing the reason he was elected.

“I was elected to represent everyone,” Long said. “I appreciate all the passion and respect what they are fighting for, but this is not political and I know what we are doing is right. We are trying to take politics out of this by eliminating two people who were politically appointed. Those positions bloated the budget and were fiscally irresponsible. There was no need for them to exist in the first place.”

The board also voted to remove Susan Sauro, coordinator of the Cumberland Area Transit System; Macleod Carre, director of Office on Aging & Disabled; and Joel Scharff, director of Human Resources.

Gonzalez considered the claim of “fiscal responsibility” to be a dubious one.

“They claim fiscal responsibility as they create two more new positions,” Gonzalez said. “But right now, I will take some time, re-evaluate things. I will never rule out a political future.”

Democrats created the position of division head for the Purchasing Office and appointed Jacqueline Jennings, of Willingboro, to the post. The board also appointed Theresa VanSant, of Bridgeton, division head of the Senior Bus Program, Craig Atkinson, of Millville, director of Human Resources and James Watson, of Mickleton, director of Economic Development.

Long responded to complaints that county Supervisor of Roads Don Olbrich, who was appointed by Democrats, was able to keep his job. However, Long indicated Olbrich’s salary will be reduced by about $15,000.

The resolutions to eliminate departments and department heads were passed with a 5-to-1 Democratic majority. The one vote against came from Republican Samuel Fiocchi, who voiced his support for Gonzalez, Barruzza and the others being removed.

Republican Freeholder Carl Kirstein was absent due to a vacation.

“Gonzalez did a fine job,” Fiocchi said. “I also want to speak on behalf of Mike Barruzza who took over the Juvenile Detention Center as we all know was in disarray. Mike Barruzza did a fine job there. I want to thank them and Ms. Sauro, who also got a lot of things done while head of the Senior Bus Program.”

Edward Slaughter, of Millville, said he did not plan on speaking Tuesday night, but felt compelled to remind those speaking out about previous freeholder politics.

“Instead of ranting at the new freeholder majority, think back a year ago when Republicans came in and made a lot of changes,” Slaughter said. “People spoke out against them. One year later, different team and here we are — having the same conversation. I’d like everybody to think about that. Maybe the way the system exists is the problem — but that’s the system we’ve got. Every time there’s an election and a new party majority takes over, they clean house.”

Republican Chairman Bob Greco noted the Democrats ruled for nearly 40-years before Republicans took control of the board in 2012,, minimizing the claim that positions have continually been eliminated and created depending on party majority rule.

Freeholder Director Bill Whelan said everyone shares the same common goals — the maintaining of stability within departments and ensuring public safety.

“We understand their concerns and we share them as well,” Whelan said. “We want the public to be safe. We just have differences in how to do these things.”